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Autistic daughter - Lack of self care and difficult image issues

NAS87125

Hi All,

My first post here.

Our daughter is 14, very bright, autism diagnosis, and exhibits a lot of PDA traits. She's at one of the local special schools.

She lacks the 'go' to try things, even if she wants to (self care things) and stays in bed most days, mostly because she feels she can't wear any of the clothes. As you can imagine we've tried everything we can. My poor wife gets put on with everything because 'she cant face doing these things with 2 people/'

Things have to be a very exact style - and even slight deviation means she wont wear them. She feels like she cant wear tshirts because they show her arm, which ties into body imae, and having gone through a period where she identified as male, but has reverted to female. She has a hard time coping with the changes from puberty and doesnt like to view herself as she is.

I feel like we need a psychiatrist or some way to help her to get out of this rut. She's currently managing a day at school once a week or two, and even then it might only be for an hour.

Has anybody else dealt with problems like this? I'd appreciate know what worked for you, and if you know of  a service or professional body out there that could help. I can pay for the help potentially, but I literally dont know where to turn.

Thanks in advance,

Parents

  • Hi there, my 16 year old daughter sounds similar - we have had these issues since she was around 12/13. It is really tough and can feel isolating and lonely. My daughter hugely struggles with identity (sexuality and gender) body image and self esteem. School has been extremely difficult to manage and her attendance is also really low. She also self harms by cutting and self soothes by binge eating. Hygiene is really poor and her executive functioning skills seem to make it even harder. She is seeing a psychologist privately, which i think is helping, but life is still tricky to navigate....

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  • Hi there, my 16 year old daughter sounds similar - we have had these issues since she was around 12/13. It is really tough and can feel isolating and lonely. My daughter hugely struggles with identity (sexuality and gender) body image and self esteem. School has been extremely difficult to manage and her attendance is also really low. She also self harms by cutting and self soothes by binge eating. Hygiene is really poor and her executive functioning skills seem to make it even harder. She is seeing a psychologist privately, which i think is helping, but life is still tricky to navigate....

Children